Displaying items by tag: On board GlassBlowing

9th May 2017

Celebrity Eclipse Calls to Cobh With On Board 'Glass-Blowing Show'

#CobhCelebrity – Cobh welcomed Celebrity Eclipse this morning as the giant luxury ship made a first port of call having set off from Southampton, the UK’s largest cruiseport, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The ‘Solstice’ class 121,000 gross tonnage luxury cruiseship at 317 metres in length is impressive given that the quay at Cobh Deepwater Berth is only 33 metres longer. It is also the only facility in Ireland in which the Port of Cork can offer a dedicated cruise berth. Planning permission however in recent years was granted for a cruise terminal in Dublin where tomorrow the ship is due to make a maiden port of call to the capital.

The 2,850 passenger capacity Celebrity Eclipse is the third of a quartet built in Germany for US based owners Celebrity Cruises. In what is a very unusual feature to be found on board is the 'Hot Glass Show'. This is where the fascinating art of glass-blowing is performed by talented craftsmen working in an outdoor studio located on the top deck's Lawn Club.

The 16 passenger deck ship was ranked among the Top 20 Large Cruise Ships according to Conde Nast Traveler's 2014 Reader's Poll. Four years previously, Celebrity Eclipse made a maiden call to Cobh. The occasion also celebrated the 500th visit of a cruiseship to Cobh, which was covered for a report published in Ships Monthly, July 2010 issue.

Notably, this first call to Cobh of the then new cruiseship took place only days after assisting stranded UK holiday makers in Spain following the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud crisis caused by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. This led to widespread disruption due to a complete shut-down of aviation travel across Europe.

In an 'act of goodwill' the owners deployed Celebrity Eclipse to make a special round trip in April 2010 from Southampton to Bilbao. This involved transporting 2,200 tourists back home on a passage across the Bay of Biscay.

Published in Port of Cork

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.